Chapter 40
Incident at Honeyduke's

They all stood outside adjusting their eyes to the brightness of the sun reflecting off of the snow layered on the sloping roofs and piled against the various buildings. They pulled their robes up around their necks against the brisk wind. Even with the wind, it was a beautiful day and they were enjoying again being out in the sunlight and amongst the hustle and bustle of the little village. They looked around at each other. "Honeyduke's then?" Ron asked, taking Hermione's hand. Everybody but Ron and Cassie groaned.

"I'm too full."

"Not yet."

"How can you even think about sweets right now?"

"How about five minutes between eating frenzies?"

Harry was grinning but he was the only one who didn't say anything; well, besides Cassie who had no idea what to expect at Honeyduke's. Ron scowled at his siblings. "You promised that we could go after we ate lunch. Now you're welching out on your promise. If we don't go now we may not go at all. I don't want to go to any more sappy jewelry or book stores." Hermione turned her head and gave him a dirty look, which Ron completely ignored.

"I want to go to Honeyduke's, too. Their chocolate is really good." Cassie definitely did not want to miss going to the candy store as that had been the one place she had been sure she could find some sort of gifts for her family.

Ron smirked. "See? Let's go."

But Hermione and Ginny were adamant. "We can walk around for a few minutes before we go there. We still have more than an hour before we need to start heading back to the castle."

"Walk around where? That sounds boring."

"Oh, stop sulking. I promise we will go to Honeyduke's, Ron. Let's just walk around for a while." Hermione led off and for a few minutes they sort of drifted without any plan. Then Cassie asked a question that she had been wondering about the entire day.

"Isn't the Shrieking Shack somewhere in Hogsmeade?" That seemed to breathe new life into the group and as one, they all spoke up.

"Yeah. Let's go see it." They walked a few more feet and then turned onto a side road that led up a small hill.

"How do you know about the Shrieking Shack?" George asked as they walked along. She grimaced, but before she could explain, Hermione jumped into the conversation.

"Harry had the absolutely ridiculous idea that they are going to have Pia live there after she leaves Hogwarts."

"It's not an absolutely ridiculous idea, Hermione. The more I've thought about it, the more convinced I am that I'm right."

"Harry, you are out of your mind! They are not going to put Pia in that horrid place!" Hermione retorted. Cassie looked with a slightly panicked expression at George, hoping he could offer some sort of insight, but he was just looking confused.

"What are you talking about?"

"When term is over next week, she has to go somewhere. Dumbledore mentioned some sort of safe place . . ."

"Yeah! That has to be gotten ready for her! That's what makes me so convinced it's here. They're fixing it up a bit." Harry shrugged. "It's perfect, really." Hermione ignored his outburst and continued with her explanation.

"That they needed to get ready. But they didn't say anything about major construction, Harry! They just said the wards needed to be strengthened. And she's worried about where they'll be sending her. So we were suggesting a few places . . . you know, the obvious safe places . . ." George nodded briefly "but none of them seemed like they were quite right. And then Harry suggested . . ."

"I'm right, Hermione. I'm sure I'm right."

"Ron. You've been inside. Tell, Harry there is no way they would ever put Pia in there by herself." Cassie heard the friendly bickering but was starting to be extremely concerned. It must be horrible and Harry was so convinced he was right. Maybe he was. Then they crested the hill and Cassie grabbed without thinking onto George's arm. It was worse than she ever could have imagined. Calling it a shack was actually being a little too optimistic. The place looked like it was held up by spit and hope. She never even heard Ron's answer. She just stood there staring at the most ramshackle, decrepit-looking, collection of worm-infested wood she had ever seen.

"Would they really expect me to live in there?"

"Everyone already thinks it's haunted. So if she made any noise, no one would think anything of it." Harry presented that piece of information like it answered all the questions and settled the argument. It didn't make Cassie feel any better.

"Pia," Fred finally contributed something to the discussion. "I'm positive they're not going to put you in the Shrieking Shack!" Cassie just stood there, staring down at the building. She finally found her voice.

"Can I look inside?"

"No. No doors. See? That makes it even better. She comes through the tunnel from Hogwarts and no one would ever even be able to come in and find her. But if Dumbledore wants to check on her . . ."

"Enough, Harry!" George was scowling. "You're scaring her." Cassie didn't want to sound like an idiotic boob, but she honestly thought she might faint.

Hermione looked at George with narrowed eyes. "You two are privy to Order business now. Have you heard any rumors about where they are going to send her?"

Fred and George looked at each other, and even Cassie, who was still reeling from the idea of staying here, by herself, over Christmas, could tell that they were sending silent messages to each other. It was Fred that answered Hermione's question.

"No. They haven't told us anything. But they certainly aren't going to put her here. I can promise that."

"You do know." Hermione stated this without question.

"No." Fred met her eyes squarely, but Cassie remembered that both of the twins were very good liars. "But I thought you said the wards had to be 'strengthened' and this place isn't warded."

"It could be warded. It's hard to believe they would have left Remus here without wards of some kind. The building itself wouldn't have kept him in." Harry spoke up again and Ginny elbowed him, whirling on him like a dervish.

"Harry James Potter! You are doing this on purpose! What are you trying to do?"

"What are you talking about? . . . I'm just trying to offer a suggestion. It's not like any of your ideas have been much better." Cassie looked at Harry, uncertain what to make of his comments. He had always been so considerate of her and this seemed totally unlike him. Suddenly, like it was written in the sky above his head, she realized what he was doing and she relaxed. She didn't say anything but she knew for a fact that he didn't really believe she would be sent here. Maybe he had thought it once, but no longer. Even if he didn't admit it to himself, he was still angry about his exile this past summer and, seeing the unmistakable parallels between himself and Cassie, he was taking out all his frustration on her, trying to upset her. And he was probably doing it without even knowing it. She didn't blame him. The sight of his house laying in ruins after they had left pushed its way to the front of her memory and she inhaled deeply. She just hoped that wherever she was sent, it was not somewhere Fidelius charmed. She just didn't trust that kind of magic.

Ginny and Harry were still arguing as were Ron and Hermione. Cassie decided it was time to put an end to this before it ruined the entire day. "It's okay, Ginny, Hermione. I'm sure I won't be sent here. So, let's just look closer. What's this about Remus?" The whole story about Remus as a student and then inevitably the story of what had happened here at the end of Harry's third year was told over the next 20 minutes as they looked around the abandoned building and grounds and tried to peak in the grimy windows. George and Fred even asked some questions as apparently they had never heard the whole narrative of what sounded to Cassie like an insane evening and night. She didn't understand everything, but she didn't ask too many questions. She was just grateful they had moved away from the subject of where she was going to be staying. She would prefer not to think about it anymore today. She just wanted to enjoy being with George. There would be time enough later to worry about that.

And strange as it sounded considering her earlier fears, she did enjoy the time there with him. He touched her constantly, taking her hand as he led her around the building, putting his arms around her as she strained to get high enough to look in a window, even sneaking a soft kiss when everyone else was around the far side of the Shack looking at the site of what Harry laughingly called "Ron's throwing a snowball at Malfoy" in third year. By mutual unspoken agreement, their touches were brief. She wasn't sure, really, why she was reluctant to announce to Harry, Ron, and Hermione that she liked George in a romantic way. The initial reason, that he would not want anything more to do with her when he found out she was a Muggle, was obviously no longer standing in the way. But she somehow felt it would cause problems. Maybe it was Harry. After all, it hadn't been that long ago that they had been snogging passionately on his couch. Maybe it was fear of Hermione's thinking she was just a tramp, moving too quickly from one boy to another. Maybe it was preferring to avoid Ron's teasing her about having a crush on his brother. She didn't know what George thought, either. She definitely was not ashamed of him or embarrassed to be with him. She thought he was wonderful. But something held her back. Maybe it was just the knowledge that their entire relationship could only be temporary and she didn't want everyone feeling sorry for her when it was over. It would be bad enough with just Ginny. Assuming she ever saw them again after she left Hogwarts. But she forced a smile onto her face and turned to the boy who had not been more than three feet from her the entire day. She laid her hand on his arm.

"This whole day has been so wonderful. Thank you for taking the time to be here with me. I know there was no real market research. You came just to see me." He smiled and looked around quickly. Then his arm sneaked around her waist.

"You're right. But you don't need to thank me. I'd do it again tomorrow if I could. It's been a great day. I was so nervous that you'd take one look at me and laugh at the idea that we could really be, you know, together. Or tell me I was too forward in my letters. I know we hadn't really had a chance to be together that much in the Alley or anything." He let go of her and looked down at his boots, which she now knew were dragon-hide as Fred had announced that to the entire group when Ron had stepped on one with muddy feet. "And you're so pretty. And I'm not." Despite the obvious sincere emotions behind this speech, Cassie couldn't help herself. She giggled.

"You were worried I wouldn't think you were pretty?" He barked out a laugh and looked up at her again.

"You know what I mean." The others came around again to the front of the Shack, Ron leading the way.

"We've gotta go now. As it is, they might be sold out of all the good stuff." Hermione resolutely followed behind him, but her face had a rather pinched, worried look and once Cassie saw Harry and Ginny, she realized why. Harry was pale and sweating slightly. Ginny looked like she was torn between helping him keep up the facade of normalcy or insisting that he go back to Hogwarts immediately. A small argument ensued as Harry rested for a few moments on a patch of rather soggy-looking grass that Hermione cleared the snow from. Hermione and Ginny wanted to let Professor Dumbledore know immediately about Harry's scar hurting so badly. Ron and Harry just kept insisting that they only had another hour to enjoy the break from school and they wanted to stay. The pain faded after a few more minutes and everyone finally agreed that since the day was so close to ending they may as well go to Honeyduke's. "After all," Ron rationalized as he helped Harry up, "chocolate is good for whatever ails you."

Cassie and George fell in line behind the procession to Honeyduke's, Fred looking back and joining them as they approached the main part of the town again. Neither of said anything as they walked. Finally, she decided she did need to acknowledge what he had said earlier, at least. "You don't need to worry about my not thinking you're handsome, George. I think you're great." She announced this right before they got back to the main street and he winked in response, which made her laugh. They walked the short distance up the street and went into Honeyduke's.

The candy shop was a scene of semi-organized pandemonium as a room full of happy students moved, pushed, jostled and grabbed at various succulent looking merchandise. Cassie looked around in amazement at all of the different candies. There was a barrel full of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, and another of Fizzing Whizbees, which Cassie saw were levitating sherbert balls. There were shelves of multi-colored candies which promised to do various things like the peppermint creams shaped like toads which were supposed to hop in a person's stomach, Ice Mice which made a person's teeth chatter and squeak, and candies which made a person breathe fire. Cassie looked from the last candy to George who had been following her gaze. He grinned and whispered, "Yeah, they make you breathe fire. Kind of like the infamous Dragon Kisses. Did you like those Kisses? There are more where those came from." Cassie blushed beet red at the suggestive timber in his voice but she couldn't help smiling in response. In the chaos, she figured that no one would notice if they stood closer together and he apparently had the same thought, because his hand grasped hers and their fingers interlaced as they threaded through the shop.

The rather harried-looking employees were trying desperately to keep the shelves stocked with the favorite items and even with magic it wasn't very easy. Then, on top of everything else, they had samples available in different areas of the store to introduce new items or advertise for some of their specialty Christmas items. These platters were filled only to be emptied moments later by grasping hands. Cassie didn't try everything, but she sampled a few candy canes which were flavored much differently than anything she had ever tried before. The butterbeer flavored ones were good although she liked the pumpkin-flavored ones the best. However, the orange color did not make her think of Christmas, so she decided she would buy the butterbeer ones. She also sampled some of the various filled chocolates, all of which were really good. George made suggestions and tried a few himself. She liked it best when he would try one and then give her the other bite of the chocolate. Maybe it was a little weird to like eating something he had already bitten into, but she liked it. She screwed up her courage when she bit into a particularly delicious caramel and then offered the other half to him. He took it, smiling down at her, and agreed with her that it was really wonderful. There was a really rich fudge also available for sampling, but they both just took a small piece of that and Cassie decided that she, at least, had had enough for the day.

She really wanted to get some chocolates for her family. She knew her mother would certainly enjoy some of these and considering how she slowly ate a box of chocolates, a fairly decent-sized box would probably last her until Valentine's day. She also thought her brothers would enjoy getting some of the more unusual candies up for sale although she would have to be careful what she got. Truthfully, she had no idea how much her brothers knew about what was going on with her. She knew for a fact that her parents had not told them about magic and everything before she had come to Hogwarts. She was not sure they would have had reason to inform them by now and, of course, she couldn't really ask in any of the letters she had sent home. So, anything she bought would have to be strictly non-magic looking, no movement, no turning the boys colors, no moving packages. She thought about the Bertie Bott's, thinking those could easily just be passed off as strange Jelly Bellies, which were one of her brother's favorite treats, but when George explained that there was no way to guarantee normal flavors and thinking that her mother more than her brothers would be extremely disgusted if they got a vomit-flavored candy, she decided to pass. She noticed in passing Ron at one point that he had a huge pile of chocolate frogs.

"Are those really frogs, George?" She indicated the shelf that they were stacked on as the two of them moved with a casual wave past Ron and Hermione.

"No. They're just chocolates."

"Do you think they'd be okay as a gift for someone who doesn't know about magic?"

"Yes. . . . they should be fine. The frogs don't actually move and the packaging is fairly straightforward." She picked up four of them, considering the cost and deciding that she could afford them. But then, "Oh, Pia. I'm an idiot. I forgot. These definitely wouldn't do. Inside each frog is a wizard trading card. And they are wizarding pictures, moving all the time." Her eyes got big and she put the four frogs back. That could have been a bad situation if the boys went around the neighborhood showing their friends. She moved on, finally settling on large lollipops for each of them, very similar to things that they had gotten at fairs in the past. These were larger, and according to George, very good.

Cassie turned a little and saw in a corner of the store a sign which read UNUSUAL TASTES. Cassie wondered what those candies included. "Let's go over there," she said, pointing.

George made a frown. "I don't think you're going to find anything over there you'll want to eat." Even so, they moved in that direction as with a shrug George followed and Ron and Hermione, who had been looking at a selection of exploding bonbons, joined them.

"Hey, Pia," Ron said with a grin, "If you select anything from this corner, I will definitely wonder about you." Cassie looked at Ron with a puzzled expression until she started to look at some of the products. There were Cockroach Clusters, which Cassie was pretty sure included real cockroaches, honey-coated flies and other disgusting types of candy. However, it was the tray of blood-flavored lollipops that Cassie stopped and stared at. She turned to the other three.

"Wha - what are these for?"

"Well, I'm pretty sure they're for vampires. I can't imagine who else would want them." Ron shrugged casually.

Cassie looked at him in shock and then turned to George to see if he was laughing. Surely Ron was just teasing her. However, George was not laughing. Instead, he had a rather chagrined look. "You don't have to worry, Swee- Pia. Vampires don't come out in the day, of course. These are sold purely by mail order or as gifts."

"Are, are you saying that vampires really exist?"

"Sure. I've never met one. But Bill has. He says they're rather, um, scary. And for Bill to say that . . . . ugh."

"You know, I will never have to watch scary movies in the future to get my chills and thrills. All I have to do is think of the 'interesting' things I've seen and heard in the wizarding world. That will keep me up at nights shaking in my bed."

Hermione chuckled in agreement, but both George and Ron had puzzled expressions. George spoke first. "Uh, movies are those things where Muggles watch funny scenes on a wall. Right?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "George, we need to get you and your brothers out into the Muggle world a little more often. I honestly don't know how, with your father being who he is, you sometimes are still so culturally retarded." Ron looked indignant, but Hermione kissed him to make up for the slight insult and he seemed a lot happier.

Hermione pulled Ron toward the selection of Sugar Quills, while Cassie and George turned to the rows and rows of delicious-looking chocolates. As she approached the display, Fred called George's name and he turned to talk to his twin. Cassie continued to look at the chocolates and was impressed to see the various flavors and designs, trying to remember which ones she had sampled and which ones she had liked. Some of the chocolates were shaped into cauldrons, wands, broomsticks and even magical beasts like unicorns and phoenixes. There were boxes of chocolates already assembled and wrapped, or there were empty boxes that you could fill with only the chocolates you wanted. She examined everything carefully. She had learned that it was never safe to assume that you knew what something was without looking carefully at the label when you were dealing with wizards. In one corner, she saw something that really caught her eye. It was a chocolate miniature Quidditch set. Inside were 14 Firebolt broomsticks, 4 beaters, 2 black bludgers, one red quaffle and one tiny golden snitch. There were also 14 players, seven in red and seven in blue. These were all created out of chocolate and according to the box, each was a filled confection with a different flavor of insides. She carefully read over the flavorings to make sure there was nothing disgusting or gross. They were all just normal chocolate flavors and some of them were even available in the regular chocolates. On reading the box further, she saw that the pieces were charmed so that, if it was desired, the little players would fly on their brooms and actually play a game of Quidditch. Cassie giggled, thinking that this was a perfect gift for George. She just hoped that she would be there when he opened it. She stole a glance around to see if George was still visiting with Fred. Their heads were close together, discussing something or another.

Cassie looked at the price of this set and then the price of the chocolates she wanted to get for her mum. She decided that if she still had money after selecting a gift for her mum, she would buy this as a surprise for George. She put it back on the shelf with a pang of regret and hoped that it was still there in a few minutes and that she would be able to afford it. She then moved over to get a closer look at the empty Christmas gift boxes. They came in a number of shapes, sizes, and themes and she wanted to make sure that she didn't make a bad choice. The one she finally selected had a beautiful Christmas/winter scene on the front of the box. It showed a wintery Hogsmeade with Honeyduke's in the center of the picture. Smoke was coming out of the chimneys and snow was falling. Cassie stared at the picture for a moment and grinned as she watched the snow flakes actually fall and the smoke actually rise into the air. Every so often, a horse-drawn sleigh would come into the picture and glide out the other side. The label, which changed colors, read "Honeyduke's Famous Chocolates" and underneath was printed, Established 1475. On the back was a notice which read, "To order a catalogue of our world-famous candies, send owl post to Hogsmeade." Cassie worked for quite a few minutes selecting the flavors of chocolates she thought her mum would enjoy and packed them carefully into the box. When it was full, she weighed it carefully on the scale provided and was pleased with the cost. She could definitely afford both gifts as well as the lollipops and still have enough left over for a few pieces of chocolate for herself. She eagerly selected some of the more delectable looking pieces and turned to see where George was. He had just extricated himself from his twin and apparently an old acquaintance and he, Ron and Hermione walked over to her.

"Did you get everything you wanted?" He looked apologetic to have left her alone for so long, but she was actually pleased because otherwise she couldn't have managed to get the Quidditch set into her basket with his noticing.

"Yes. Thanks. This has been lots of fun, but I think if I eat one more piece of chocolate today, I'm going to explode. I need to pay for these things."

Cassie followed Ron (who had gotten yet another load of merchandise) and Hermione to the register. He was excitedly dumping his selections onto the counter as Hermione patiently stood by. Cassie smiled to herself as she watched them. She suspected Ron would be munching candy late into the evening and, although Hermione had made a few comments about her dentist parents not being happy with all of the candy, she thought Hermione would give in to Ron's cajoling and would also spend the evening tasting the various candies. Cassie looked down at the large gift package for her mum and was pleased. She was sure her mum would love the chocolates she had selected. The rich, delicious chocolate and the unique flavors were bound to keep her satisfied for a number of days after Christmas. Cassie stepped up to the register and paid for the two boxes of chocolates, as well as the chocolates and candy canes she had selected for herself, grateful that the bag the clerk handed her was thick and George would not be able to see through it. This was much too large to slip into her purse.

Cassie turned and looked at George. Ron and Hermione had gone off again and Cassie didn't try to figure out where. She knew that their time here was almost gone. George smiled and pulled her to the side so the next customer could pay for their merchandise. "It's almost time for you to return to Hogwarts." Cassie nodded. She had a sinking feeling but did her best to keep the smile on her face. George took her by the hand commenting, "Follow me. I want to say a proper goodbye to you, and I can't really do it inside this chaos." Their fingers interlaced again as she let George lead her behind the counter and into a back room. Both stopped short as they came into a room of frenzied activity with people sorting and boxing various candies. George muttered under his breath and then said a little more loudly, "We'll just go out the back way and then we can meet the others around front." They exited the store and George immediately pulled Cassie over against the side of the building. "Next time I want to spend time with you, remind me not to do it where there are so many people around."

She smiled and he must have taken this as an invitation because he pulled her close and kissed her. This time, there was nothing tentative about his mouth at all. His lips were firm and hot and she held onto his shoulders because if she hadn't, she would have just collapsed. She kissed him back, too, almost frantic to absorb the feel of him against her so that she could recall it when she was alone again at school. His hands were firm on her hips and she could feel his fingers flexing even through the layers of her clothes. He pulled her even closer and she raised up on tiptoes to meet his mouth so that there was no question in his mind of whether she wanted this or not. They pulled away from each other for a second, breathing hard.

It's been a fun day, though, hasn't it? Even with all the people?" She desperately wanted to know that he did not regret the day.

"The best. Too bad we couldn't go to Loch Ness, but this was just about as good." They were both leaning against the back wall of the store, staring across the alley. "I guess we probably don't have much time." He turned sideways to look at her though she didn't move. "Darn it, Pia, I can't stand the thought of leaving you here. I have no idea when I'll see you again. Or where." He raised his hand and cupped her face. She closed her eyes, wanting to block out the sudden rush of fear that threatened to swamp her.

"Don't say that. Please. They'll have to let me tell someone where I am, won't they? And if I can only tell one person, it would be you. And then you could come visit me." She hoped her voice didn't sound as panicky to him as it did to her. She went to kiss him again, sliding her arms up around his neck and feeling grateful as he half lifted her to make it easier for their mouths to touch. As she got higher, she could look past his shoulder down the empty alley. She saw the back door open and looked with concern to see who was there. The sight that met her eyes scared her more than even the thought of her safehouse. Draco Malfoy's pointed face, framed by his blonde hair, was glaring at George's back. As he saw her, though, his eyes widened and she watched the play of emotions across his face. If she hadn't been so terrified, she would have found it fascinating. At first, he just looked surprised. Then, she could have sworn it changed to disgust. And finally, there was such an expression of unmistakable glee that it sent her stomach plunging to her toes. Anytime he was that happy about something, it undoubtedly meant something bad was going to happen.

Cassie swore and grabbed George's arm. He looked at her in surprise and any other time Cassie would have been embarrassed. However, her mind was completely on Draco Malfoy. "Put me down. But don't turn around, please. Malfoy is watching us. He's seen me."

"Malfoy!" He practically growled the name as he set her carefully back down on her feet. "I'm going to kill him. Slowly and painfully." She looked up at him with frightened eyes. She really wouldn't be able to stand it if he got in trouble for her. He must have reconsidered, because he did draw his wand out of his sleeve, but he didn't turn around. "I hoped I had gotten you out of the store before he saw you, but I was obviously wrong. Is he still there?" Cassie realized then that George had seen Draco in the store and had wanted to protect her. She would normally have kissed him thank you but now was not the time.

"Yes. He's still standing in the doorway, but I think he's going to come back here." Her fingers tightened on his arm. She really was unsure what to expect. She trusted George, she really did, but Draco at this moment was an unknown quantity and if they dueled, she didn't know what would happen.

"Don't worry." George whirled quickly, half yelling something that Cassie did not understand, and pointed his wand up at the roof above their heads. The stream of blue light that burst from the end of his wand was something Cassie was pretty sure she had never seen before. She had about half a second to wonder what he had done before the entire amount of melting snow and ice that was hanging on the store's roof started to slide down. Malfoy started as he heard the rumble but was unable to do anything as it caught the back of his head. He was knocked down by the avalanche and pushed face first into what she hoped was a very deep puddle of mud. His wand flew out of his hand and into the muddy slush of the alley. His entire upper body was quickly buried by the snow and ice and his lower body still stuck through the half open door. George grabbed her hand and dragged her to the side of the building, as they narrowly missed being buried by the expanding slide themselves. She heard Malfoy screaming curses that she was pretty sure his mum would not approve of and she realized with relief that he was not dead. But he was certain to be very cold, wet, and muddy by the time someone dug him out and she couldn't help but laugh despite the seriousness of the situation.

George smiled in response to her laugh. "I'm going to take that as my cue to leave. I hate to abandon you to that . . . idiot. Promise me you'll stay close to Ginny. She'll take care of you. She's a very powerful witch. Remember to do that hex on him. That'll scare him off for certain. And tell someone what happened here today, okay? Like Lupin or Dumbledore." He looked down at her and then kissed her one more time, hard and fast. "You can leave out the kissing, if you want to." She put her fingers up to her lips again, trying really hard not to cry. "Shhhh. Sweetheart. Don't cry, please. I'm sorry. I promise I'll write you. A nice long letter. First thing tomorrow, okay?" Her heart leapt at the endearment and she now wasn't sure whether to be happy or sad. It was very confusing, this starting to be in love. He took her hand again. "Come on. Let's meet the others. It will take a while to get him out of there, I think." They went around to the front of the store and saw Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny, sampling some of their purchases as they stood on the sidewalk. They were all facing away from them, though, so George made noises like they had just come out of the store. "That place is a madhouse. I'm going to order my stuff by owl, I think, next time." Fred joined them a minute later.

"Well, Forge. I think we better be heading home. I've got to start making myself look beautiful for tonight." Cassie had a sudden shaft of cold penetrate her heart. He was going to that party tonight where there would be all sorts of beautiful girls. He would be dancing with people who were not her. But she bit her lip and shoved the pain to the back of her mind. He had wanted to take her. He wouldn't forget today that quickly. She could trust him.

"You're right. We'd better go," he teased. "That could take a long time." He looked at his siblings and friends. "You take care of her. I mean it." They all shook hands and kissed goodbye to each other. Fred stepped in front of her and she looked up into his face, so similar but in a way so different from George's. Fred's cold lips pressed against Cassie's cheek and she kissed him back murmuring thanks for coming with George. Then it was just George and she closed her eyes for a minute, trying to prepare for the inevitable pain after this. He took her hand in his and squeezed it. "Goodbye, Pia. I'll see you soon, okay?" She knew he couldn't promise any such thing, but it did make her feel a little better. Then his lips met her cheek and she had to fight to not turn her head. She kissed his cheek back, enjoying the slight roughness of his five-o'clock shadow abrading her soft skin. He pulled back and his eyes met hers. It was as though they said everything to be said in that glance and then he was gone and she was just staring at the spot from where he had disapparated.